The recent death of an infant due to a medication error while in the care of the Seattle Children’s Hospital brings fresh attention to an issue that continues to impact families across America.
In this case, the infant in Washington was being transported in anticipation of a transplant when a staff member issued medication without permission and in violation of the hospital’s policy. The medication error, combined with another medical mistake that was not fatal, caused the hospital to suspend all non-emergency surgeries for a full day to allow the staff to review patient safety practices, identify weaknesses and establish immediate corrections.
Having the hospital respond by interrupting operations for a brief period to try to ensure that more errors didn’t happen may have been the right decision. However, at least one hospital staff member had already made a decision that led to the wrongful death of a child. The hospital’s response was too late, at least in this medical malpractice case.
If you or a loved one has been hurt due to a medication error in the Dallas, Texas area, please contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Polewski & Associates today to schedule your free initial consultation.
